Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
28020209
Author
Harper, David G.(David Gordon),1960-
Title
Kinematics and mechanics of fast-starts of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss and northern pike, Esox lucius.
Degree
Ph. D. -- University of British Columbia, 1990
Publisher
Ottawa : National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1992.
Description
3 microfiches.
Notes
University Microfilms order no. UMI00310737.
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
The escape performance of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and northern pike Esox lucius were measured here with subcutaneously implanted accelerometers. Acceleration-time plots reveal two types of escape fast-starts for trout and three for pike. Trout performing C-shaped fast-starts produce a unimodal acceleration-time plot (type I), while during S-shaped fast-starts a bimodal acceleration-time plot (type II) results. Pike also exhibit similar type I and II fast-starts, but also execute a second S-shaped fast-start that does not involve a net change of direction. This is characterized by a trimodal acceleration-time plot (type III). Fast-start performance is significantly higher for pike than for trout for all performance parameters. The fast-start performance of pike during prey capture was also measured with subcutaneously implanted accelerometers. Acceleration-time plots and simultaneous high-speed cine films reveal four behaviours with characteristic kinematics and mechanics. Comparisons of mean performance were made between each type of feeding fast-start. Type I fast-starts were of significantly shorter duration and displacement than type III and type IV behaviours, and higher mean and maximum acceleration than the type II, type III, and type IV behaviours. The type II behaviours were also of shorter duration and displacement, and of higher mean acceleration than type IV fast-starts, and were of significantly shorter duration than the type III behaviours. Prey capture performance was compared to escapes by the same individuals. When data are combined, regardless of mechanical type, mean acceleration, maximum acceleration, mean velocity, and maximum velocity were larger, and duration shorter during escapes than during prey capture. No differences were found through independent comparisons of the performance of feeding and escape types II and III, but type I escapes had significantly higher mean velocity, maximum velocity, and mean acceleration than the type I feeding behaviours. Prey capture performance was also related to prey size, apparent prey size, and strike distance. Mean and maximum acceleration increased with apparent size and decreased with strike distance, while the duration of the event increased with strike distance and decreased with apparent size. Strike distance decreased as the apparent size increased. The type I behaviour was usually employed when the strike distance was small and the prey appeared large. As strike distance increased and apparent size decreased, there was a progressive selection of type II, then III, then IV behaviours. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
ISBN
0315697504
9780315697508